After a decade and a half since Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman first introduced Deadpool and Wolverine to cinema audiences in the critically panned X-Men: Origins - Wolverine, the dynamic duo is finally giving their iconic characters a well-deserved buddy movie. On Monday, the stars premiered their film in New York City, with the nation's press also getting a taste of the first full screenings. The initial reactions are now flooding social media, setting the stage for official critic reviews that will arrive on Tuesday. (Scroll down to catch a glimpse of the buzz).
The star-studded premiere in New York had NSYNC members in attendance, as noted by an eyewitness from Hollywood Reporter. The film is poised to make a mammoth domestic debut this weekend, expected to rake in over $165 million, which would make it the biggest R-rated opening in history.
Shawn Levy, a frequent collaborator of Reynolds, directs Deadpool & Wolverine and co-wrote the script alongside Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells. Emma Corrin stars as the film's formidable antagonist, while a host of familiar faces from the Deadpool and Wolverine franchises make appearances, including Dafne Keen, who portrayed Wolverine's daughter, Laura, in Logan (2017).
The journey to the big screen for this film has been long and arduous. 20th Century Fox's Deadpool emerged as a surprise hit in 2016, catapulting Reynolds and the character to new heights of popularity. Two years later, Deadpool 2 quickly followed suit, but the third installment faced numerous delays, spanning six years due to the complexities of 20th Century Fox's sale to Disney. This milestone marked Marvel Studios' first foray into R-rated fare, while also giving them access to Deadpool and the X-Men characters for the first time.
The premiere precedes Thursday's eagerly anticipated San Diego Comic-Con panel for the film, as well as Marvel's Saturday evening showcase, where the studio is expected to unveil glimpses of upcoming films such as Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts.
